Join the Ramakrishna Order

For general enquirers and volunteering:

There are no specific requirements for visiting and taking part in the various activities of the centres of the Ramakrishna Order. Many people volunteer their time and energy to aid the various service-oriented activities of the organization. The daily evening Aratiand devotional singing is a part of most of the centres. Many centres also have a definite schedule of weekly/monthly discourses, spiritual-meets (Bhakta Sammelan), annual celebrations, seminars, retreats etc. You may seek out the head of the particular centre for spiritual counsel.

If especially interested in volunteering for some of the activities of the Math/Mission, you are encouraged to regularly visit the centre and get to know the monastics and other senior volunteers/devotees.

Requirements for men to join the Ramakrishna Order as monks:

Healthy, unmarried, educated young men (women are addressed in the footnote) with the below requirements –

Age

22 years for School Final/Matriculation or its equivalent passed with minimum 60% marks.

who is attracted by the philosophy followed by the Ramakrishna Order, is eligible for admission into the Ramakrishna Order (marks sheets and degree certificates necessary).

A thorough reading of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature is very necessary. Prior association with any centre of the Ramakrishna Order(Math, Mission, Ashram or Vedanta Society) will give him acquaintance with the associated lifestyle.

He should be initiated/arrange to get initiation (Mantra Diksha – मन्त्र दीक्ष) – from the Ramakrishna Order.

He must be physically fit and will have to clear medical tests before being accepted into the organization.

He must also be free from undischarged family duties that are likely to weigh on his conscience and which may act as a disturbing factor in his proposed monastic way of life.

It should be noted that he shall not be any paid any monetary compensation as wages, salary etc., and he shall stay of his own freewill, following the rules and regulations of the Order.

(Foreign nationals are requested to contact the centre closest to them. Passports, visa, travel-permits etc. are to be in order and to be procured by themselves.)

Our Inspiration - Baranagar Math - 1887

Life in the Ramakrishna Order

One may join in any of the centres associated with the Ramakrishna Order, in India (If one wishes to join at Belur Math, please inquire about the Pre-Probationers Training Centre – PPTC at Belur Math). An aspirant is given a long period of nine years to examine his own fitness for his choice of the monastic way of life within the Order. On completion of nine years as a Brahmacharin, he may be ordained as a monk (Sannyasin) and full membership of the Order.